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Addiction Recovery

RiseUp Podcast – Interview with Rod Olson

May 3, 2015 by NickGalieti

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In this episode of RiseUp, Nick Galieti interviews Rod Olson in a very candid discussion of the challenges of living an active LDS lifestyle while identifying as being homosexual (or what some describe Same Sex Attraction.)

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Born and raised in Northern California, Rod was introduced to the Church as a young child through his mother, who became a member following his parents’ divorce.  Rod served a full-time mission in Houston, Texas, studied musical theater at BYU (where he was a member of the Young Ambassadors as well as an instructor at the Missionary Training Center), and performed professionally on the stage in New York City.  After a 13-year hiatus, during which time he worked in New York and Los Angeles in the brand development and shipping logistics industries, Rod retured to his entertainment roots and is now a producer in Los Angeles.

Rod realized early in life that he was gay, and at 10 years of age, unbeknownst to his mother, made an appointment to talk about it with his Bishop.  As he matured, Rod knew that his homosexuality was not going away. He eventually came out to his parents and spent a decade pursuing short- and long-term relationships with men. Toward the end of this period of self-discovery, Rod fell into addiction. It stripped him of everything—love, relationships, career, friends, money, health, and even hope.  With nowhere to turn, Rod entered a 12-step program for gay addicts that, along with the gospel, he credits with saving his life.

Rod has been sober for nine years and active in the Church for eight.  Since returning to full activity, Rod has served as executive secretary to three bishops, in an Elders’ Quorum presidency, as stake Public Affairs Director and as a Gospel Doctrine instructor.  He currently serves as Ward Mission Leader, a Priesthood teacher at the Los Angeles Federal Prison, as well as a veil worker at the Los Angeles Temple.

Click here to watch Rod Olson’s presentation at a special NorthStar LDS Fireside.

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Filed Under: Homosexuality, Hosts, Nick Galieti, Podcast, RiseUp Tagged With: Addiction Recovery, drug addiction, Mormons and gays, Same Gender Attraction, Same Sex Attraction

4th Watch 18: OCD and addiction recovery

January 29, 2015 by Ned Scarisbrick

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4thWatch SmallThis is the third and final podcast in this series on physiological issues from a practical standpoint.  We all have our own interpretations of how the world works and in this episode we evaluate how our personal understanding of life can become clouded by debilitating addictions and what we can do to about them.

Obsessives compulsive disorder is another difficulty that some of us may encounter within ourselves, friends and loved ones.  The ability to stay focused is a valuable trait in many aspects of our lives but we can fall into the valley of despair if we become obsessed or out of balance in our perspectives.  Our good brother Ned offers several observations in the first part of this podcast that can help someone who may be struggling with this issue to seek that proper balance in life and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the second section of this episode brother Scarisbrick interviews Mark from the LDS addiction recovery program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His personal testimony concerning the nature of addiction is a moving story about the Savior’s love for each one of us.  You can view Marks video on the Church’s official web site here.

As always the views and opinions expressed in this podcast may not represent those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or that of FairMormon.

Filed Under: Chastity, Doctrine, Evidences, Faith Crisis, General, Hosts, LDS Culture, Ned Scarisbrick, Philosophy, Podcast, pornography, Power of Testimony Tagged With: Addiction Recovery, OCD, Pornography

RiseUp podcast: Using Family History Work to Overcome Trials of Faith, Depression, and Addiction

January 23, 2015 by NickGalieti

https://media.blubrry.com/mormonfaircast/www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/RiseUp-FamilyHistory.mp3

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In what might be an unlikely option for people that are experiencing questions about their faith, on this episode, Nick Galieti sits down with Craig L. Foster of the Church’s Family History Library to talk about how doing Family History work can help people who are experiencing trials of faith, wanting to overcome addictions, or even dealing with depression.

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Filed Under: Faith Crisis, Hosts, Nick Galieti, Podcast, RiseUp Tagged With: Addiction Recovery, Depression, Family History

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